Page 19 of The Shifting Tide (William Monk 14)

“No! No, I in’t in that business. You take ’em somewhere else,” the pawnbroker said vigorously.

Monk put the watch back into his pocket and went out into the street again, walking quickly, avoiding the close walls and skirting wide around the entrances of alleyways. He thought of word spreading and his being robbed, or even killed, and it sent colder knots clenching on his stomach than even the raw air could produce. But he knew of no other way to draw the attention of a receiver. He could not afford the time to play a slow, careful game, and he had no police knowledge or help to guide him. Far from going to them, as would have been his instinct, he was obliged to avoid them, to watch for them and take another path, as if he were a thief himself. Once again he cursed Louvain for keeping him from using the regular, lawful means.

He kept his promise to Scuff, and was at the dockside at the same time and place with hot pies, tea, and fruitcake. He was absurdly disappointed to see no one there waiting for him. He stood in the clearing amid the old boxes. He could hear nothing but the lost cries of gulls above and the wail of foghorns as mist rose from the water, choking the light and muffling sound. The rising tide slapped against the pier stakes, and in the distance men shouted at each other, some of them in languages he did not understand.

A string of barges made a wash that hit the shore sharply and then died away again, swallowed in the fog.

“Scuff!” he called out.

There was no answer, no movement except a rat scuttling into a pile of refuse twenty yards off.

If Scuff did not come soon the pies would not be warm anymore. But then he would have no way of telling the time! Even if he could? It was stupid to have expected him to be there. He was an urchin just like any of the petty thieves that roamed the alleys of the city, picking pockets or running errands for forgers, cardsharps, and brothel-keepers.

Monk sat down unhappily and began to eat his own pie. There was no point in allowing that to get cold, too.

He was halfway through it when he was aware of a shadow across his feet.

“You eaten my pie?” a voice said disgustedly.

He looked up. Scuff was standing in front of him, his face filthy, his expression full of reproach. “You didn’t oughta do that!” he accused.

“If you want yours cold, that’s up to you,” Monk said, overwhelmed with a relief that would be absurd to show. He held out the other pie. It was twice the size of yesterday’s.

Scuff took it solemnly and sat down, cross-legged, holding the pie with both hands as he consumed it. He said nothing until the last mouthful was gone, then he reached out and took the tea and cake. When that was finished, he spoke.

“That was good,” he said with satisfaction, wiping his mouth with one filthy sleeve.

“You were late,” Monk remarked. “How do you know the time anyway?”

“Tide, o’ course,” Scuff replied with exaggerated patience at Monk’s stupidity. “I come at the same ’eight o’ the water.”

Monk said nothing. He should have thought of that. If there was anything a mudlark would know, it was the rise and fall of the water.

Scuff nodded. “Yer bin runnin’ more errands?” he asked, glancing at the cups that had held the tea.

“Not today. I’m looking for a receiver who’ll deal in good stuff, maybe gold-or ivory.”

“Lots o’ gold,” Scuff said thoughtfully. “Dunno nob’dy wot ’as ivory. Worth a lot, is it?”

“Yes.”

“The Fat Man. ’e knows most things wot goes on. But yer’d best stay clear of ’im. ’E’s a right bad bastard, an’ yer in’t no match for ’im.” There was a gentle pity in his voice, and Monk was almost sure there was concern in his eyes.

“I need to find some ivory,” Monk confided. He knew he was being rash telling this young mudlark information he could not afford to have spread everywhere, but the desperation was mounting inside him. His efforts of the morning had not so far led him to a single receiver. “Who’d sell it?”

“Yer mean cheap?”

“Of course I mean cheap!” Monk agreed witheringly. “If I don’t go to the Fat Man, who else?”

Scuff considered for a few moments. “I could take yer ter Little Lil. She knows most o’ wot’s fer sale. But I can’t jus’ do it, like. I gotta make arrangements.”

“How much??

?

Scuff was offended. “That in’t nice. I trust yer like a friend, an’ yer go an’ insult me!”

“I’m sorry,” Monk apologized with genuine contrition. “I thought it might cost you something!”

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